Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Look what I found in my inbox this morning just in time for Thanksgiving?!

We are happy to announce you that tasteofamerica.ch is back in business. Take a look at the redesigned online shop with new payment possibilities and an easy product search function for your preferred AMERICAN groceries.Register now and … Enjoy the taste of AMERICA!

Jell-o as of CHF 1.50! Kraft's Macaroni & Cheese only CHF 3.20. Arm&Hammer Baking Soda 1lb for CHF 4.-. These are only a few offers they have in store for you!

Cruise over to their site and take a look at their breakfast assortment, your kids will love you for it! ;)

Monday, September 29, 2014

Australian illustrator Shaun Tan, who today won the world's richest prize for children's literature, reflects on the quiet mysteries of everyday life in his collection of stories with pictures, Tales From Outer Suburbia.

In this exclusive story, a family gets a surprise when a foreign exchange student, Eric, comes to stay. Although everyone is delighted with the arrangement, cultural misunderstandings ensure, beginning with Eric's insistence on sleeping in a pantry cupboard rather than a specially prepared guest room.

A captivating, sweet and incredibly intriguing story showcasing Eric's interest into the smaller, finer things in our world, those things we sometimes neglect, are the things Eric explored and wondered about the most. Tan uses funny and random drawings of Eric hiding from the family in tiny places around the house like teacups and cabinets. He stays and learns the basic in's and out's of life and goes his own way, but not without leaving his own colorful mark on the gracious home that allowed him to stay there. This is a great example of Shaun Tan's lesson's that can be learned through a simple picture book.

As charming as he is curious, by the end of his stay this intriguing house guest will capture your heart.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

A lot of the movies that I’m drawn to this time of year are related to Fall or Thanksgiving, but an equal number just give me that cozy Fall feeling. Here are 25 of my favourite Thanksgiving/Fall themed movies – I hope you find some that you and your friends and family can enjoy as well!

A side note for your convenience: Below you’ll find a list of 25 movies and a television show – some items are appropriate for children, and some are definitely not! Films with asterisks by their titles can be found on family-friendly channels such as The Disney Channel, ABC Family, The Hallmark Channel etc.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Thousands of English-speaking expats are likely to remain tongue-tied with the pronunciation of the Swiss cantons. A new map now provides a remedy.

Twitter user Deedee has labelled all the Swiss cantons' names, with English syllables and words, for English speakers to be able to say the name correctly - more or less.

Where do you live? In Sung Gull Len! Basel-City is "bars Hellish indeed", Graubünden is called "Grow The Burn" and Neuchâtel is to "No Shat Tell".

John Wubbe, the president of Züri Expats is enthusiastic: "The map is awesome!" It is very difficult for most English-speaking expats to pronounce Swiss German words correctly. "Plus a different dialect is spoken in each place." Thaks to this map, the expats can learn the correct pronunciation of the cantons, says the Dutchman, who has lived in Switzerland for 14 years.

Friday, September 19, 2014

Going through my mail today,I received the following mail from Expats in Ticino Yahoo group:

As we are all aware, 2014 has seen an unprecedented displacement of people around the globe. I know a woman in Ticino who has managed to organise transportation of donated items to the Syrian refugee camps. She has a delivery from Lugano next Friday, 29th September. If you have any good-quality children' s clothing or baby items (prams, camp cots, linen, etc) that you are willing to donate, please inbox me directly and I will do my best to arrange collection. While she is not able to accept donations of toys, she will take all essentials, including general medical supplies and non-perishable baby food. Thank you for your support.Regards,Toni

Toni even went to her local pharmacy and bought small bandages, plasters, antiseptic creams, etc. for the last delivery. When she explained to her pharmacist what they were for, she handed over a box full of samples of similar items. Needless to say, they were gratefully accepted. Simply think of what you'd need, as a parent trying to keep babies and young children healthy in a refugee camp, and, if you have the opportunity, they'll take them all!

Should you wish to participate you can reach Toni under her e-mail address: acsellickpetra@yahoo.com

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

This weekend, don't miss the renowned walking and Nordic walking event in Locarno. The event is open to the public and is dedicated to all those who wish to spend a day of health, movement and fun. It is definitely worth the trip up the valley.

You'll find three Nordic / Walking paths of various lengths and difficulties (5.5 km, 12.5 km and 16.5 km). Locarno is also providing a varied entertainment programme. They'll be a 5km "Family run" especially designed for families with games and animation along the path.

The biggest news is that the 9th Walking in Ticino edition will feature the 1st ladies run in Ticino. An easy, flat 5km path, suitable for all fitness levels and exclusively for women! Do not miss this Ticino premiere! See you there.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Look what I found on the internet today. This is a wacky piece of information that will bound to make you smile. It is entitled the Atlas of Prejudice by Yanko Tsvetkov.

Yanko Tsvetkov would best describe himself as an explorer. He insists curiosity is his best asset and pursuing it--his real profession.

A Bulgarian, born in the Black Sea port of Varna in 1976, he has traveled several continents, passed through thick jungles, walked through scorching deserts and booked a lot of taxis in busy metropolises. In the meantime he learned four languages and always kept notes about his experiences, either on paper or in his head.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Seen from above these Adriatic aerial views seem spectacular and allow for great photography but can you imagine sitting under one of those umbrellas at a distance of about 30cm from your neighbour. If you're lucky, your neighbour will have bambini and will be hooked to the mobile phone. Wouldn't that be a brilliant interpretation of a nice, relaxing holiday? NOT!

For now, just enjoy the fantastic shots by Bernhard Lang who had the wonderful idea of photographing Italy's Beach Resorts from above:

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Get your walking shoes ready... you can run if you like but the main point is to participate. I am talking about the Corsa della Speranza (The run for hope).

"Run for Hope" is an race celebrated in more than fifty countries worldwide for cancer research. It is a non-competitive event. You can run, march or just walk on a 5 km route through the most emblematic streets of Lugano.

It's a race for everyone, athletes and not sporting: families, schools, societies, children, grandfathers, grandmothers... Revenues made from inscriptions and from spontaneous offers or donations, are entirely paid to the Ticinese Foundation for Cancer Research, which funds International research projects taking place in Ticino.

The Runs for Hope have existed for over twenty years and are held in many countries. The idea was originates in the late 80s in Canada, where the 23-year-old Terry Fox, lacking a leg amputated of a bone cancer, decided to cross the country with a metal prosthesis in order to raise awareness about the disease and to raise funds for the fight against cancer. Terry failed to conclude his stoical challenge. The cancer took him away before. But his brave and generous spirit continues to live through the Runs of Hope.

It's your turn to run/walk tomorrow. Just pop down to Piazza Riforma tomorrow after 11:00 to register and you're ready for the race starting at 18:30. The kids will love running, walking or scooting through Lugano with Mummy and Daddy.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

I am a big fan of Apple but also a big fan of Ikea. This is a combination of the two. How do you like it?

To play on the fact that browsing an IKEA catalog is a sort of holistic sensory experience, the company has created this clever new ad, which skewers Apple’s notoriously over-the-top product commercials. The result is hilarious, and the jokes really just write themselves.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

For the very first time in almost twenty years since its foundation, Bacchica proposes its autumn event in Lugano. Lugano thus becomes the city of wine, folklore, craftsmanship and food and wine connoisseurship.

For September’s event several surprises are in store. Bacchica is offering a series of appointments during the 4 day event dedicated to Bacchus:
- there’s the election of Miss Bacchica, the appointment with the « Mazza in Piazza » an event to see close up how a hand-made sausage is produced
- there’s also a children’s corner with fun and games organised by children education experts
- the presence of several bands and folk groups playing in different squares
- you’ll also have the opportunity of attending Sunday mass
- watching grape pressing
- and lot’s more.

For Bacchica’s first time in Lugano, special boat trips have been arranged on Lake Ceresio. An exhibition of ancient farm tools in collaboration with the Stabio museum will also be held. There will be an area devoted to “bocce” (bowls), the launching of the stone and Swiss wrestling, all of this organised in the full respect of Swiss national laws and regulations.

The event’s main focus will be Sunday’s great folkloristic parade taking place along Lugano’s Lakeshore and the wine tasting activity planed for Saturday afternoon.

Bacchica also proposes a lunch for the elderly and a moment of entertainment for the children hospitalised in Lugano’s Ospedale Civico, organised in collaboration with a group of experts.

Many other surprises await all those who will be participating in this event scheduled for September 11th 2014 in Lugano’s town centre.

Sunday, September 7, 2014

My friends know I am a huge dessert lover, so when I came across this US map entitled United Sweets of America, I just had to share it with you.

According to our family, Switzerland's dessert would be Mousse au Chocolat, Italy would present its Tiramisù, Argentina wins with Dulce de Leche and great Britain's top dessert would have to be Trifle.

Followers

Globetrotting

The Mom song

Cheap flights

Voice Recognition Elevator

La leçon de géographie

Things I've learned from my children:

Always look in the oven before you turn it on. Plastic toys do not like ovens.

The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earth worms dizzy. It will, however, make cats dizzy.

Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.

Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.

Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.

No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.

Pool filters do not like Jell-O.

Super glue is forever.

Play Dough and Microwave should never be used in the same sentence.

Certain LEGOs will pass through the digestive Tract of a four year old.

A six year old can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36 year old man says they can only do it in the movies. A magnifying glass can start a fire, even on an overcast day.

Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.

When you hear the toilet flush and the words "Uh-oh," it's already too late.

You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using the ceiling fan as a bat, you Have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.

The glass in windows (even double pane) doesn't Stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.

A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. foot house 4 inches deep.

If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.

If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the Motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound boy wearing Batman underwear and a superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20 by 20 foot room.